A Savannah Fire captain has been arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot his wife, setting fire to her clothes, head-butting two police officers and threatening to burn police cars.

Elmer Cuevas, a 48-year-old resident of the 1400 block of Randee Drive, was charged with terroristic threats and acts, second-degree arson and two counts of battery on a police officer Tuesday after a 6:15 p.m. incident at his home.

The chain of events began earlier Tuesday, when Cuevas’ 33-year-old wife called police to say Cuevas had threatened to shoot her and burn her clothes, according to police spokesman Julian Miller. She told police she was afraid to go back to the house to get her belongings and said Cuevas also threatened her mother.

Officers from the Islands and Southside precincts drove to Cuevas’ home and allegedly found him burning his wife’s clothing in the backyard.

Miller said officers convinced Cuevas to surrender a knife strapped to his belt but that he tried to ease his way inside, to the kitchen, where officers later found a gun lying on a counter.

Miller said Cuevas grabbed an officer who tried to block his path, and a “tussle” ensued. Police managed to coax Cuevas outside and warned they’d fire a stun gun if he didn’t cooperate. Miller said Cuevas replied to the warning by head-butting two officers and threatening to kill everyone on scene and burn the officers’ patrol cars.

He was arrested and taken to the Chatham County Jail.

Savannah Fire spokesman Mark Keller said Savannah Fire Chief Charles G. Middleton was briefed Tuesday night on Cuevas’ arrest but will not make a decision on his employment until he gets a full report on the incident.

“We’re aware of his situation, and the situation is being addressed by the chief, and we’re waiting to get final information on the situation,” Keller said.

Keller said he could not provide Cuevas’ current assignment, his number of years with Savannah Fire or his salary Tuesday night.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for
following agreed-upon rules of civility. Posts and
comments do not reflect the views of this site. Posts and comments are
automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some
comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules,
click the "Flag as offensive" link below the comment.

I guess city of Savannah does back ground checks, but they hire alot of friends an family an go past the checks. There has been alot of thuggism in all City of Savannah departments. What do you expect, look at the leaders!

Elmer, Im sure you were at your wits end. Im sorry it came to this, but if you had taken my advice 9 years ago and let that [filtered word] go you would
not be in this situation I know the heart wants what it wants, but you can not turn a [filtered word] into a wife.